Why The Gilmore Girls Are Getting Solar Panels This Year

Living in Stars Hollow can be exciting, but it can also be expensive. Being a Gilmore girl means eating out instead of cooking (unless you count pop-tarts), a coffee addiction, and a lot of junk-food purchases.

Lorelai Gilmore isn't interested in accepting financial help from her parents. But after yet another argument with her mother over money, she's ready to look for ways to save on her own.

Unsurprisingly, Kirk got a job with a solar company, going door-to-door in Stars Hollow awkwardly praising the benefits of solar. His visit to Lorelai Gilmore's house was relatively uneventful. Though the thought of Kirk up on her roof was enough to send him and his solar-panel samples on his way, it did get Lorelai thinking about the benefits of making the switch.

Solar in Stars Hollow

After Rory did some research for her mother, she realized that solar isn't something only the Emily Gilmores of the world can afford. Not the case. The solar industry in the United States has undergone years of technological innovation and government support, meaning it's now relatively cheap. Figures from EnergySage show that from 2014 to 2015 the average price per watt of solar in the U.S. dropped by 5%. Additionally, depending on what state you live in, there are various incentives and rebates to mitigate the upfront burden of choosing to go solar.

Another option for homeowners is to pay back the solar developer under a loan program that is often cheaper than traditionally delivered electricity. A nice option for Loralai, who might not have the cash to spend upfront.

Lease or Loan?

A solar lease option keeps panels under the ownership of the company leasing them. While there are often no upfront costs, the solar lease option has steadily become a less favorable option. Instead, solar financing – taking out a loan with a solar developer to purchase the panels outright – is now the preferred choice. Figures show that solar financing is 30% cheaper than solar leasing over the full life of the installation.

And both options are cheaper than paying the electricity company. If you live in Connecticut, like the Gilmore girls, you have one of the highest average monthly residential electricity bills in the country (around $127 per month). Going solar could mean big savings.

Given the cost of Friday movie night, running your own business, and shopping for new clothes, cheaper solar electricity wins every day.

Installation and Maintenance

Solar seems great, but there's one problem. Who will Lorelai get to maintain the solar panels once they're up there? Sure, Luke could do it – though you just know he's going to whine about it. Tom and the boys could also do it, but it's not their speciality. And nobody wants Kirk on their roof.

Residential rooftop solar installations are installed by professionals, and can be almost left entirely untouched for the rest of their life. With no moving parts, there's very little that can go wrong, and all that is needed is to hose them down every year or so to stop any grimy build-up. No need for Luke, Tom, or Kirk to do anything – except maybe to sweep off the snow every now and again.

Solar means more money, less hassle, and fewer awkward discussions with Emily. We'll eat to that.

Finding the right words is hard (unless you talk as much as Lorelai), getting a quote is easy. Let Quote.com help you with all your solar needs so you can save money for movie night.